http://www.fao.org/oek/research-extension-systems/ais-ff/en/ Many developing countries have recently increased their interest in investing in the agricultural innovation system (AIS) to address food security and adapt to climate change, and Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region is not an exception. This presentation, prepared for the session on Agricultural innovation systems for food security during FAO Investment Days (December 2012, Rome), shows the evolution of Agricultural Innovation in LAC region and presents three emblematic case studies from Mexico, Dominican Republic and Peru. © FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Agricultural Innovation in LAC:
Evolution and Cases
Investment Days – TCI FAO
Cesar Falconi
December 2012
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2. Outline
• INIA Model in LAC
• Innovation: New Approach and Cases
• Recommendations
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3. INIA Model
• Specialized in research supporting production and, including
originally food self-sufficiency.
• Important levels of public sector investments in R&D and
rapid expansion of research (quantity and quality) 1950s -
1970s.
• Capitalize on the Green Revolution (“spill-ins”); contributed
to yields and the growth of production.
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4. INIA model in LAC: problematic aspects
• Heterogeneous and • Fatigue of the traditional
unequal distribution model (in many cases
in agricultural since the 80's):
innovation • Loss of political
capacities: autonomy
• Large number of small • Resource
national systems, with
very limited capacity depletion/lack of
• Some national systems human resources
with selective • Rigid "top-down"
capacity: Chile, management models
Colombia, Costa Rica,
Uruguay that led to inadequate
• Three countries with technologies and
ample capacities: limited rate of
Argentina, Brazil, adoption (“linear
Mexico
approach”).

5. Yield Gaps and Potential Expansion: LAC
Fuente: High Food Prices, LAC Responses to a New Normal
(http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTLAC/Resources/FoodPrices_english_V2_highres_.pdf) 5

6. Investment in science and technology in
LAC: low and uneven across countries
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7. R&D Spending as a % Agricultural GDP
Region 1981 2000
Africa 0,84 0,72
Asia 0,36 0,41
Developed 1,41 2,36
Countries
LAC 0,88 1,14
World Development Report World Bank 2008
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8. The main source of funding for agricultural
R&D is public and vulnerable
LAC 1990's (%)
Country AR ('91) BR ('91) CH ('94) CO ('91) EC ('91) GU ('91) MEX ('91) PN ('86) VE ('87) Aver.
Government 21% 95% 41% 80% 58% 71% 88% 62% 82% 66%
Sales and services 1% 4% 26% 14% 21% 3% 5% 2% 17% 10%
Earnmarked taxes 67% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0% 8%
Donor contrib. 0% 0% 8% 2% 12% 1% 4% 5% 0% 4%
Private 0% 0% 5% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Other 12% 1% 21% 0% 9% 25% 1% 31% 1% 11%
Source: Cremers and Roseboom (1997)
LAC 2000’s (%)
AR BO BR CH CO CR EC ES PN PE PY TT
Government 41.8% 20.0% 60.2% 68.9% 13.2% 19.5% 90.6% 51.9% 32.8% 28.7% 63.1% 64.3%
Private 22.5% 16.0% 38.2% 24.9% 46.9% 23.3% 1.2% 10.2% 3.8% 0.0% 13.3%
Universities 32.2% 31.0% 1.6% 38.3% 36.2% 13.2% 0.6% 59.3% 12.7% 22.4%
NGOs 2.2% 19.0% 2.1% 1.7% 21.0% 0.5% 10.4% 1.2% 8.2% 2.3%
Foreign Investment 1.2% 14.0% 4.1% 8.9% 23.4% 55.1% 21.8%
Source: Author Elaboration 8

9. Limited research staff level…..
Support Personal
Country % PhD % MSc
per researcher
Argentina 17,2 40,8 0,8
Brasil 64,1 94,2 sd
Chile 25,7 61,9 1,8
Colombia 10,7 42 1,3
Costa Rica 14,3 55,3 1,2
República Dominicana 10 72,6 3,2
El Salvador 0 19,7 0,9
Guatemala 7,5 34 3
Honduras 15,2 42,4 3,5
México 37,9 77,9 1,1
Nicaragua 9,6 56,7 3,3
Panamá 8,1 41,9 1,9
Paraguay 4,8 51,1 2,1
Uruguay 23,6 54,7 1,4
Source: LAC ASTI (2009) 9

10. Limited linkages wrt national and
international organizations
Area Interaction Intensity No Total
(%) Interaction (%)
(%)
High Medium Low
International 24 18 47 12 100
Programs
National System 47 13 13 20 100
Agricultural 50 6 39 6 100
National System
Trigo, Pomareda y Villarreal, IICA, 2012
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11. Limited insertion innovation process
(degree of research results insertion to
innovation)
Trigo, Pomareda y Villarreal, IICA, 2012 11

12. Changed context for the generation and
diffusion of agricultural technology
• Open markets
• Permanent public budget constraints
• Persistence of rural poverty
• Intensified inter-linkages between the primary sector,
agro-industry and the retail sector
• New scientific potential (biotechnology,post harvest,etc)
• Multiplicity of actors (NGOs, universities, private sector)
• New challenges (intellectual property, bio-security)
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13. Towards Innovation….
The response to the above restrictions and challenges
has been the introduction of the concept of
"innovation" and innovation systems.
In the early 2000s onwards everybody is talking about
“innovation", even change the names of the
institutions (the "i" in NARS), networks are created
(INNOVAGRO) and innovation at the center of the
scene.
But the reality is there have been some efforts to
change.
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14. Key Pillars for Strengthening Innovation
• Recreate (adjust) research capabilities
• Promote (design) closer links between research
institutions and other actors in the research system
and transfer.
• Promote the development of mechanisms to design
and implement innovation policies
Interventions:
o National Agricultural Innovation System
o Research and Technology Transfer System
o Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer Institutions/Organizations
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15. Case: Mexico - Innovation Component
Advanced
• There is a National Research and TT System (SNITT)
• With Loan at System level:
o Establishing of Product (Maize for small farmers, Fruits and
Vegetables) and Thematic (biotechnology) Innovation Platforms:
Increase interaction.
• With Loan at Institutional level
o Strengthen Research and Tech Transfer capacities
o Establishing “External“ Laboratories to link to International
Research Centers
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16. Case: Dominican Republic – Intermediate
• There is a National Agricultural and Forestry
Research System (SNIAF), with limitations.
• With Loan at System level:
o Support to develop a Strategic Innovation Plan and Prioritization
• With Loan at Institutional level:
o Strengthen Strategic Areas thru : Research and Technology
Transfer Projects (RTTPs) with emphasis on adaptive
experimentation, validation, and transfer ( result oriented)
o Development and implementation of a technology transfer and
dissemination strategy
o Technological linkage agreements with renowned international
agricultural research centers to promote South-South
intraregional cooperation
o Formation of partnerships between the private sector (enterprises)
and INIA to develop technological solutions and solve specific
problems in accordance with market needs. (Technological
Product Projects).
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17. Case: Peru – In progress
• There is a National Agricultural Innovation System
(SNIA), on paper.
• With Policy Loan at System level:
o Support to develop an Agricultural Innovation Policy
o Support to define and activate the National Agricultural
Innovation Council, apex of the System
• With Investment Loan (IDB-WB) :
o Strengthening SNIA: Technical Secretary, Communication
Strategy, Promote Interaction, Information Strategy.
o Establishing Competitive Funds to enhance interactions among
national and/or international actors of system and to promote
innovation at national and regional level.
o Strengthening INIA research and technology transfer capacities
and its interactions to international research centers
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18. National Innovation System
A.Develop a strategy for national agricultural innovation system, within which are identified, players, skills, relevant policies
and priority lines.
B.Implement adjustments in the regulatory framework and supporting innovation in areas such as intellectual property,
biosafety and animal and plant health, and measures standards systems, and quality systems, among others
C..
Research and Technology Transfer System
a. Need to structure a discussion about the roles and priorities of the public sector
b. Develop new tools to increase private funding of research and technology transfer
b. Develop new tools to increase private funding of research and technology transfer
c. Establishment of institutional governance mechanisms and decision-making more market-oriented and demand to ensure
greater participation of not only producers but also other stakeholders, especially the agribusiness
Agricultural Research Institutes
Strengthen them:
i.institutional and organizational frameworks that generate greater and more effective participation of the various
i.institutional and organizational frameworks that generate greater and more effective participation of the various
stakeholders, and funding structures responsive to the characteristics and requirements of the research activities
ii.development of human resources, and infrastructure - laboratories and databases - both conventional areas and
in new sectors (biotechnology, precision agriculture, postharvest and agroindustry);
iii.management capabilities in key issues of the new product research and technological development (intellectual
property consortium projects, technological linkage, biosecurity, etc..); and
iv.schemes and tools for coordination with the various stakeholders in the technology transfer systems (knowledge
management, policies and mechanisms for managing operational partnerships, etc..).
management, policies and mechanisms for managing operational partnerships, etc..).
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19. GRAZIE MILLE
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